born March 9, 1763, Farnham, Surrey, Eng.
died June 18, 1835, London
English journalist.
He joined the army and served in Canada (1785–91). He lived in the U.S. (1794–1800), where he launched his career as a journalist, fiercely attacking the spirit and practice of American democracy and winning himself the nickname "Peter Porcupine." He returned to England and founded the weekly Political Register (1802), which he published until his death. He championed traditional rural values as England entered the Industrial Revolution; his reactionary views of the ideal society struck a powerful chord of nostalgia, and he also criticized corruption, harsh laws, and low wages.